Gas burner



designates a base structure,

Unite States Patent GAS BURNER Chet Smoker, New Paris, Intl., assignor t9 Elkhart lieater Corporation, Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Endiana Application July 25, 1952, Serial No. 390,844 Claims. (Cl. 158-105) This invention relates to improvements in gas burners, and more particularly to improvements in gas burners for use in space heaters. One use for which the invention is particularly well suited is in a space heater for a house trailer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with novel means for detachably mounting one or more gas burner elements in operative relation to a multiple burner assembly for operation independently of the assembly and preferably continuously rather than responsive to thermostatic means, so that a minimum heat output is provided from the burner at all times and wide swings or variations of temperature may be avoided.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with a novel bracket or support for mounting and accurately positioning one or more gas burner members and adapted for detachable mounting of a burner member on a multiple burner assembly.

A further object is to provide a device of this char- 'acter with abracket having an aperture in one substantially horizontal portion thereof adapted to fit around and be supported by a tubular gas burner member and having an aperture in a second substantially horizontal portion laterally and vertically offset from the first portion, which said aperture is adapted to support a tubular gas burner, the intermediate portion between the apertured flanges being adapted to bear against the manifold or tubular body which supports the first named burner member.

A further object is to provide a gas burner with a novel bafile construction to prevent excessive air blasts which tend to extinguish a burner flame while at the same time accommodating an adequate supply of air to support combustion, and which prevents damage to a combustible structure below the gas burner as a result of radiation from the burner.

Other objects will be apparent specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of the device in side'elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a view of the device in side elevation when from the following I viewed at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top elevation view of a part only of the device.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "numeral and the numeral 12 a multiple element gas burner assembly which is carried by the base structure. The numeral 14 designates an auxiliary gas burner, and the numeral 16 designates a pilot burner.

The base structure may be of any character found suitable and preferably comprises-ametal bottom panel or frame 20 which is adapted to rest upon the floor or supporting surface of the structure in which the space heater is located. The base panel 20 will be substantially co-extensive with the bottom portion of a casing (not shown) for the space heater. A tubular member 22 is supported upon the bottom member 20 and communicates with an opening (not shown) in said bottom member and in the supporting structure, such as the floor of a house trailer, so as to provide an air inlet to support combustion. An upper panel unit 24 is supported upon the top of the tube 22, having an opening therein communicating with the bore of the tube to permit entry of air therethrough. The panel 24 is preferably marginally flanged at 26, the flanges preferably being up-turned as shown and serving to strengthen and rigidify the panel 24.

The burner unit 12 preferably includes a tubular manifold 30 preferably in the nature of a ring, here being shown as substantially square in outline, and having a substantially fiat top surface 32 and substantially flat outer side Walls 34. The manifold 30 usually includes a downwardly projecting portion 36 at one side thereof adjacent to the neck 38 which carries the fitting 40 for connection with a gas supply line (not shown). The top wall of the manifold 30 has a plurality of spaced holes (not shown) formed therein at which are threaded or otherwise connected the individual burner elements 42. The burner elements 42 are preferably of elongated tubular character having a rounded upper end portion provided with a plurality of slots 44 extending substantially radially and accommodating discharge of the fuelair mixture to be burned. in spaced relation below the slotted head of each burner is provided an enlarged portion 46 which is preferably apertured at 48 to accommodate entry of air into the tube for mixture with gas in the proper ratio to support efficient combustion. The top surface of the enlargement 46 preferably defines a shoulder 50 encircling the reduced tubular upper portion 42 of the burner, said shoulder being spaced above the top surface 32 of the manifold 30. It will be understood that the interior of the tubular burner 42 communicates with the interior of the manifold 30.

The burner unit 12 is mounted upon the support 10 by means of brackets. These brackets are preferably 'of inverted U-shape, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and include a substantially horizontal central web portion 54 and a pair of substantially upright leg portions 56. The support is preferably formed of sheet metal and may have substantially horizontal foot portions 58 bent therefrom to bcar'flat against the surface of the panel 24. One of the brackets 54, 58 will preferably underlie and support the manifold 30 at the downward projection '36 thereof, and the other support will engage the opposite part of the ring. The legs of the two supports will be of different lengths, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the body of the manifold may be positioned substantially horizontally. If desired, the supports 5458 may have a flange projecting therefrom, which flanges may extend upwardly at '60 to engage the side wall of the manition of the burner manifold 30 which is carried by the support. Thus no separate securing means arenecessary,

and in effect the baffle member 66 is substantially clamped or confined between the manifold and the brackets which support the manifold. As will be seen in Fig. 1, when the plate is arranged to engage the bottom of the downward projection 36 of the manifold, the plate 66 will be inclined relative to the horizontal, and this, coupled with the lateral spacing between the outer edges of the plate and the adjacent parts of the manifold, will allow an ample opening for air Which passes through the tube 22 to extend around the baffle and through and around the manifold to provide the air necessary to support combustion. At the same time, should there be any strong drafts, the baffle will retard them sufficiently to insure against extinguishment of the flame at the burners. Additionally, should downward radiation occur, as of infra-red or ultra violet rays, the baffle plate 66 will retard and perhaps reflect them so that they cannot injure any combustible material in the trailer floor or other supporting structure upon which the burner is mounted, as around the air intake opening thereof.

Multiple burner assemblies of the type including the manifold 30 and the multiple individual burners 42, are commonly controlled by thermostatic means. For example, a thermostatic control valve (not shown) may be interposed in the supply line connected at the inlet fitting 40. As is well understood in the art, such an arrangement will provide for on-and-oflt' operation of the burner, depending upon the room temperature. Therefore, it is necessary that the burner have associated therewith a pilot burner 16 which operates independently of the thermostatic control and serves to ignite the burners 42 when a demand for heat has opened the thermostatically controlled valve to permit the supply of combustible gas to the manifold and its burners. Such pilot burners 16 produce some heat, but the amount of heat produced is negligible insofar as space heating purposes are concerned.

It is therefore one of the purposes of this device to supplement the heat produced by the pilot burner 16 by provision of one or more continuously operating burners 14 which are preferably connected to a gas source for substantially continuous operation. The compact, steady, accurately positioned support and mounting of the burners 14 and 16 is therefore necessary. I accomplish this easily in a detachable manner by the use of a bracket 70 of the character best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The bracket is preferably formed of sheet metal or other rigid sheet material and has a flange or plate portion 72 normally positioned horizontally, an intermediate Web portion 74 normally positioned vertically, and a downwardly offset flange or plate portion 76 normally positioned substantially horizontally. The flange portion 72 is preferably provided with one or more apertures 78 of such size and location as to fit snugly and slidably around the upper portion of one or more of the burner members 42 carried by the manifold 36. As here illustrated, two such holes are provided, so spaced and located as to fit around two burners at different runs of the manifold 30, that is, adjacent a corner of the ring. The openings are of such size to have a snug sliding fit on the tubular upper portion of each burner 42 and to bear flat against the shoulder t of the burner. The openings 78 are so oriented with reference to the intermediate web 74- of the bracket that said web will bear flat against an outer side wall 34 of the manifold in a substantially vertical position when the flange 72 rests upon the burner abutments 59. The lower flange 76 will preferably be apertured to receive an inlet fitting 80 connected to the burner 14, and of a smaller size than the bottom portion 82 of the burner 14 so as to provide a shoulder 84 bearing against the top face of the flange 76 around the opening. This arrangement holds the burner 14' substantially upright, as illustrated, in a position adjacent to the manifold ring and the other 4 burners so that the heat therefrom may pass through the space heater chamber (not shown) in a heat transfer relationship. It will be apparent that the particular location of the member 14 may be varied according to the requirements of each individual space heater to take advantage of any space which may be provided in different space heaters adequate to accommodate the burner 14.

The bracket 70 serves also to support the pilot burner 16. Inasmuch as this pilot burner 16 must discharge its flame adjacent to the tips of one or more of the burners 42 of the burner assembly, it is desirable that the burner 16 be mounted in an inclined position, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. This is accommodated by the use of an inclined plate which has a flange 92 which may be welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the bracket 70, as at the intermediate web portion 74 thereof. The plate 90 will preferably be provided with an aperture (not shown) and the body of the pilot burner 16 will pass through that aperture and will be secured fixedly to the plate 90 as by means of the securing nuts or clamping parts 94. This arrangement holds the pilot burner 16 in an inclined position with its top directed to and adjacent to at least one of the burners 42, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. If desired, the plate 90 may have a downturned end portion 96 and an inturned flange 98. The portion 96 may have a tapped hole to receive a set screw 100 as a means to clamp the structure to a support independent of the burner, if that is desired.

It will be apparent that the bracket 70 permits the mounting of supplemental burners 14 and 16 on a multiple burner construction at will and without requiring the use of securing means or special attachments other than the bracket itself. The bracket is so constructed that the supplemental burners 14 and 16 will be held in operative relation to the other burners, and at the same time will conserve space and maintain each of the parts in their proper orientation so that none will interfere with the others. The use of the device makes possible the conversion of an on-and-off space heater to one in which a certain minimum constant heat output is provided, and this conversion is accomplished inexpensively, rapidly, and without requiring rebuilding of the space heater other than the addition of the brackets, the supplemental burners and the lines leading to the supplemental burners.

While the construction of the device as here illustrated is preferred, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a gas burner unit including a tubular manifold having a plurality of apertures in its uppermost wall and a plurality of substantially upright tubular burner elements having means to issue gas for supporting a flame and each connected in communication with said manifold at an aperture, of a supplemental burner member independent of said unit and connected to a supply conduit, and a metal bracket having a pair of spaced vertically offset apertured flanges and an intermediate substantially upright portion, the aperture of the uppermost flange fitting around one of said manifoldmounted burner elements to position said intermediate portion substantially upright and in engagement with said manifold, the other flange projecting outwardly from said burner with its aperture receiving said conduit and supporting said independent burner adjacent to said first burners and manifold.

2. The combination with a gas burner unit including a tubular manifold having a plurality of apertures in its uppermost Wall and a plurality of substantially upright tubular burner elements having means to issue gas for supporting a flame and each connected in communication with said manifold at an aperture, of a supplemental burner member independent of said unit and connected to a supply conduit, and a'metal bracket having a pair of spaced vertically offset apertured flanges and an intermediate substantially upright portion, the aperture of the uppermost flange fitting around one of said manifoldmounted burner elements to suspend said bracket with said intermediate portion substantially upright and in engagement with said manifold, the aperture of the other flange receiving said conduit and supporting said independent burner adjacent to said first burners and manifold, at least the bracket-supporting burner having an upwardly facing shoulder spaced above said manifold and providing an abutment supporting said first named bracket flange.

3. The combination with a gas burner unit including a tubular manifold having a plurality of apertures in its uppermost wall and a plurality of substantially upright tubular burner elements having means to issue gas for supporting a flame and each connected in communication with said manifold at an aperture, of a supplemental burner member independent of said unit and connected to a supply conduit, and a metal bracket having a pair of spaced vertically offset apertured flanges and an intermediate substantially upright portion, the aperture of the uppermost flange fitting around one of said manifoldmounted burner elements to suspend said bracket with said intermediate portion substantially upright and in engagement with said manifold, the aperture of the other flange receiving said conduit and supporting said independent burner adjacent to said first burners and manifold, said independent burner having a downwardly facing shoulder adjacent the connection of said supply conduit therewith and bearing upon said last named bracket flanges.

4. The combination with a gas burner unit including a tubular manifold having a plurality of angularly disposed runs and apertures in its uppermost wall and a plurality of substantially upright tubular burner elements having means to issue gas for supporting a flame and each connected in communication with said manifold at an aperture, of a supplemental burner member independent of said unit and connected to a supply conduit, and a metal bracket having a pair of spaced vertically offset apertured flanges and an intermediate substantially upright portion, the aperture of the uppermost flange fitting around one of said manifold-mounted burner elements to suspend said bracket with said intermediate portion substantially upright and in engagement With said manifold, the aperture of the other flange receiving said conduit and supporting said independent burner adjacent to said first burners and manifold, said manifold having two angularly disposed runs each mounting at least one burner, said first name-d bracket flange having two apertures spaced at different distances from said intermediate bracket portion for supporting engagement with adjacent burners mounted at different manifold runs, said intermediate bracket portion bearing against one of said manifold runs. 1

5. The combination with a gas burner unit including a tubular manifold having a plurality of apertures in its uppermost wall and a plurality of substantially upright tubular burner elements having means to issue gas for supporting a flame and each connected in communication with said manifold at an aperture, of a supplemental burner member independent of said unit and connected to a supply conduit, and a metal bracket having a pair of spaced vertically offset apertured flanges and an intermediate substantially upright portion, the aperture of one of said flanges fitting around one of said manifoldmounted burner elements to position said intermediate portion substantially upright and in engagement with said manifold, the aperture of the other flange receiving said conduit and supporting said independent burner adjacent to said first burners and manifold, an inclined arm carried by said upright portion, and a pilot burner supported by said arm in inclined position directed toward said manifold-mounted burners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,235 Claybourne Apr. 8, 1902 1,359,417 Musser Nov. 16, 1920 1,784,716 West Dec. 9, 1930 1,932,738 Kerr Oct. 31, 1933 1,960,609 Werner May 29, 1934 1,962,200 Lonergan June 12, 1934 2,365,102 Olds Dec. 12, 1944 2,547,850 Brown Apr. 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 867,279 France July 15, 1941 

